The Health Minister says patient demand will drive decisions surrounding the extension of opening hours at Ennis Hospital’s Medical Assessment Unit.
HSE Figures show that to date, 72 patients have been referred to Ennis and Nenagh hospitals via a new pathway which allows ambulances to take patients who meet agreed clinical criteria directly to the MAU, rather than the ED in Limerick.
Recruitment is underway for an additional 20 staff across a range of specialties at Ennis Hospital and Stephen Donnelly says as these staff take up their posts, the number of assessment slots available for patients will increase.
Responding to a Dáil question from Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe about whether the MAU will become an 18 or 24 hour service, Minister Donnelly says that will depend on certain factors.
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